Newswatch (Nigeria) facts for kids
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| Type | Weekly news magazine |
|---|---|
| Owner(s) | Jimoh Ibrahim |
| Publisher | Newswatch Communications Limited |
| Founded | 28 January 1985 |
| Language | English |
| Headquarters | Broad Street, Lagos, Nigeria |
Newswatch was a popular weekly news magazine from Nigeria. It was published by Newswatch Communications Limited. At its peak, about 100,000 copies of the magazine were printed each week.
Contents
The Story of Newswatch Magazine
Newswatch magazine was known for its in-depth news stories in Nigeria. It played an important role in how news was shared in the country for many years.
How Newswatch Started
Newswatch was created by four well-known Nigerian journalists in 1984. Their names were Dele Giwa, Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese, and Yakubu Mohammed. The very first issue of the magazine came out on January 28, 1985.
People said that Newswatch changed how news was reported in Nigeria. It brought a new way of doing investigative journalism, which means looking deeply into stories.
Early Challenges and Changes
Dele Giwa was the first main editor of Newswatch. Sadly, he passed away on October 19, 1986, after receiving a package that contained a bomb.
The magazine faced difficulties with the government at times. In April 1987, the government made Newswatch close down for six months. This happened because the magazine published some information from a government document.
Growth and Recognition
By 1996, Newswatch was very popular. It printed about 150,000 copies that were read in Africa, Europe, and North America. Many important people were part of the magazine's leadership, including Chief Tony Momoh and Otunba Mike Adenuga.
In December 2010, Newswatch celebrated its 25th birthday in Lagos. They even gave out a book about the magazine's history called Jogging in the Jungle: The Newswatch Story.
New Ownership and Future
In May 2011, a company called Global Media Mirror Ltd. bought 51% of Newswatch Communications Limited. This company also publishes another newspaper called National Mirror. The new owner was Jimoh Ibrahim. He became the new chairman of Newswatch.
Bala Dan Abu, who was an editor, was given the job of building up the news team. The new owner promised to pay off the magazine's debts and any unpaid salaries to the staff.
In 2012, Newswatch stopped printing for a short time. But it started publishing again in January 2013.
